Listers Great Adventure | Page 3

The card party has
gone in and he's a gambler."
"So am I!"
Mortimer shrugged, and Cartwright wondered whether the fellow
meant to imply that his gambling was not important since he had
married a rich wife. The young man, however, hesitated and looked
thoughtful.
"I don't know your object for wanting Shillito, but if my supposition's
near the mark, might I state that I approve? In fact, I'd begun to wonder
whether something ought not to be done. The fellow's plausible. Not
our sort, of course; but when a girl's romantic and obstinate--"
Cartwright stopped him. "Exactly! Well, I'm the head of the house and
imagine you can leave the thing to me. Perhaps it doesn't matter if your
sister is obstinate. I'm going to talk to Shillito."
He crossed the veranda, and Mortimer returned to his chair and
cigarette. He did not approve his step-father, but admitted that
Cartwright could be trusted to handle a matter like this. Mortimer's
fastidiousness was sometimes a handicap, but Cartwright had none.
Cartwright entered the smoking-room and crossed the floor to a table,
at which two or three men stood as if waiting for somebody. One was
young and tall. His thin face was finely molded, his eyes and hair were
very black, and his figure was marked by an agile grace.
He looked up sharply as Cartwright advanced.
"I want you for a few minutes," Cartwright said roughly, as if he gave
an order.
Shillito frowned, but went with him to the back veranda. Although the
night was warm and an electric light burned under the roof, nobody was
about. Cartwright signed the other to sit down.

"I expect your holiday's nearly up, and the hotel car meets the train in
the morning," he remarked.
"What about it?" Shillito asked. "I'm not going yet."
"You're going to-morrow," said Cartwright grimly.
Shillito smiled and gave him an insolent look, but his smile vanished.
Cartwright's white mustache bristled, his face was red, and his eyes
were very steady. It was not for nothing the old ship-owner had fronted
disappointed investors and forced his will on shareholders' meetings.
Shillito saw the fellow was dangerous.
"I'll call you," he said, using a gambler's phrase.
"Very well," said Cartwright. "I think my cards are good, and if I can't
win on one suit, I'll try another. To begin with, the hotel proprietor sent
for me. He stated the house was new and beginning to pay, and he was
anxious about its character. People must be amused, but he was running
a summer hotel, not a gambling den. The play was too high, and young
fools got into trouble; two or three days since one got broke. Well, he
wanted me to use my influence, and I said I would."
"He asked you to keep the stakes in bounds? It's a good joke!"
"Not at all," said Cartwright dryly. "I like an exciting game, so long as
it is straight, and when I lose I pay. I do lose, and if I come out fifty
dollars ahead when I leave, I'll be satisfied. How much have you
cleared?"
Shillito said nothing, and Cartwright went on: "My antagonists are old
card-players who know the game; but when you broke Forman he was
drunk and the other two were not quite sober. You play against young
fools and _your luck's too good_. If you force me to tell all I think and
something that I know. I imagine you'll get a straight hint to quit."
"You talked about another plan," Shillito remarked.

"On the whole, I think the plan I've indicated will work. If it does not
and you speak to any member of Mrs. Cartwright's family, I'll thrash
you on the veranda when people are about. I won't state my grounds for
doing so; they ought to be obvious."
Shillito looked at the other hand. Cartwright's eyes were bloodshot, his
face was going purple, and he thrust out his heavy chin. Shillito thought
he meant all he said, and his threat carried weight. The old fellow was,
of course, not a match for the vigorous young man, but Shillito saw he
had the power to do him an injury that was not altogether physical. He
pondered for a few moments, and then got up.
"I'll pull out," he said with a coolness that cost him much.
Cartwright nodded. "There's another thing. If you write to Miss Hyslop,
your letters will be burned."
He went back to the smoking-room, and playing with his usual
boldness, won twenty dollars. Then he joined Mrs. Cartwright on the
front veranda and remarked: "Shillito won't bother us. He goes in the
morning."
Mrs. Cartwright gave him a grateful smile. She had long known that
when she asked her husband's help difficulties were removed. Now he